We aren't quite to the fourth quarter in the NFL labor negotiations yet, but if we are going to continue the analogy started in the headline, all that will be is a formality, with the NFL players holding onto the ball for a full 15 minutes until the inevitable is confirmed, just as the Giants did in the NFC title game against the Vikings a decade ago. Right now, the players can do no wrong and the NFL owners/management can do no right, the former successfully winning legal battles and portraying themselves as guys who just want to work for a living while the latter keeps tripping up on greed and hubris. Here are a few specific thoughts -- and bear in mind we've been watching this primarily as a casual observer, not an insider:

*The players and their leader, NFLPA director DeMaurice Smith, have been absolutely brilliant in their constant focus on winning the battle of public opinion. As huge as the legal ruling was yesterday, they were quick to dish out quotes like this one from Smith: "My hope is really is that there's somebody on the other side who loves football as much as our players and fans do," while deploying the strategy of having players show up this morning at team facilities. Both of those are symbolic -- one with words, one with an action -- but both continue to portray the players as the side that wants this resolved so that the world can enjoy football again. Even if the NFL gets its stay, the league will be portrayed as the bad guy that put football back on hold again.

*The league seemed thoroughly unprepared for the ruling yesterday. We suppose when you're used to getting your way, as the NFL owners as a group and individuals are in general, then you sometimes aren't prepared for something going against you. But to be scrambling on a conference call last night trying to determine next steps? That looks terrible.

*Judge Nelson, in her ruling, potentially did fans in all sports a great favor. Her ruling contained this passage: "The public ramifications of this dispute exceed the abstract principles of the antitrust laws, as professional football involves many layers of tangible economic impact, ranging from broadcast revenues down to concessions sales,'' Nelson wrote. And, of course, the public interest represented by the fans of professional football who have a strong investment in the 2011 season is an intangible interest that weighs against the lockout. In short, this particular employment dispute is far from a purely private argument over compensation.''

She acknowledged, in a legal document, that fans have a certain stake in this whole enterprise -- without their interest, of course, there are no millions and billions to be made. We're no legal expert -- maybe Rocket could weigh in -- but there seems to be some sort of potential for precedent and a ground swell movement toward fans' rights here, should this ruling stick.

*In short, we don't see how the NFL owners can win at this point. This was always ultimately going to be about leverage and public relations, with the courtroom serving as a venue. The players have all the leverage right now. And they have the public on their side. The next step is either a denial of the stay by the judge and the Court of Appeals (players win big again) or the granting of a stay and/or more favorable ruling for the league from the appeals court (owners and management might get back a smidgen of leverage here, but whatever gained is given back tenfold in bad PR as they appear to be the side that is committed to grinding the game to a halt instead of playing ball).

You'll recall the Vikings were slight favorites on the road in that NFC title game a decade ago -- a brash, confident bunch that thought it was on its way to the Super Bowl. Well, right now the players are Kerry Collins and the owners are Wasswa Serwanga. And it might not even be that close.